Georgian State Minister: Abkhaz People Reject Moscow’s Nominee

Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Goga Khaindrava said, while commenting on the decision by the Abkhaz Central Election Commission to declare opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh the president-elect, that the Abkhaz people rejected Moscow-backed Raul Khajimba as their President.

“The most important thing in these events was that the Abkhaz people did not allow for appointment of [their] President from Moscow,” Goga Khaindrava told Civil Georgia late on October 11.

He also said that, in terms of personalities, it makes little difference for Tbilisi who will become the new Abkhaz leader. “We are ready to hold dialogue with any future President of the breakaway region. This is irreversible. Our final goal is to reintegrate Abkhazia,” Goga Khaindrava added. 

Pro-governmental presidential candidate Raul Khajimba, supported by the Kremlin, has already condemned the CEC decision and said that his supporters are ready to hold protest rallies.

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